# Mapping stillbirth and infant mortality rates: a district-wise exploration using civil registration system reports of Karnataka

## TL;DR

This study maps stillbirth and infant mortality rates in Karnataka, India, from 1971 to 2022, identifying districts with high rates to guide targeted health interventions.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in using district-level civil registration data to reveal spatial and temporal trends in stillbirth and infant mortality in Karnataka.

## Key findings

- Stillbirth and infant mortality rates declined over time but remain high in specific districts like Dharwad and Chamarajanagara.
- Geospatial analysis identified clusters of high mortality rates in districts such as Dharwad, Gadag, Davangere, and Chitradurga.
- The study highlights the need for region-specific strategies to address maternal and child health disparities.

## Abstract

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.

Reducing stillbirth and infant mortality rates has become the primary focus of global public health initiatives to improve maternal and child health. This study aimed to investigate the temporal and spatial variations of stillbirth and infant mortality in Karnataka using the Civil Registration System (CRS) reports, examining trends from 1971 to 2022.

District-wise summaries of stillbirth and infant mortality rates from CRS reports were analyzed using geospatial techniques, including choropleth mapping and spatial autocorrelation, to assess their distribution across Karnataka districts for selected years (2001, 2010, and 2022).

The findings reveal distinct temporal patterns in stillbirth rates over the study period, allowing for the identification of areas of concern. Dharwad district exhibited the highest stillbirth rate (16.67 per 1,000 total births), whereas Chamarajanagara reported highest infant mortality rate (21.88 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) in 2022. As per 2022 CRS reports, both stillbirth and infant mortality rates were highest in Dharwad, Gadag, Davangere, and Chitradurga districts. Spatial analysis techniques highlight clusters and disparities in stillbirth occurrences among different districts, providing valuable insights into regional variations.

This study highlights a declining trend in the number of stillbirths and reveals substantial spatial disparities in both stillbirth and infant mortality rates across Karnataka. The identification of high-burden districts such as Dharwad, Gadag, Davangere, and Chitradurga emphasizes the need for geographically targeted strategies to improve maternal and child health outcomes.